Courtcraft wins on the day

The weather yesterday, though fine, was cold and dull for the continuation of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association’s Easter tournament, and especially in the morning the wind at the Anderson’s Bay courts was very tricky.

The fact that the men’s and ladies’ singles championships were to be decided in the afternoon drew a good attendance of spectators, but the result was no surprise in either case. In the semi-final of the men’s championship S.H.K. Sumpter succeeded in defeating S.G. McDougall, but the match was not a particularly good display of tennis. Much interest was shown in the final between Bray and Sumpter, and half-way through the second set Sumpter’s chances looked excellent. In the third set Bray converted a deficit of love-2 into a lead of 3-2. which he increased to 5-2. Sumpter then won two games, but Bray took the next and the set 6-l.

In the fourth set Sumpter was obviously tired and making many mistakes and Bray ran out an easy winner, 6-l. Bray’s cut shots and brilliant placing and his wider knowledge of courtcraft were too much for the younger man. In the final of the ladies’ championship Miss Hart played very good tennis, her driving being particularly strong, but though she put up a determined fight, Miss McLaren had too much experience for her.

Thrift as a cardinal virtue

A remarkable story of poverty of cardinals, due to the high cost of living appears in L’Illustrazione Italiana, contrasting with the magnificence of the vast retinue maintained by cardinals in the days of the Renaissance.  Each cardinal receives a subsistence allowance of 22,000 lira a year, which is now equivalent to £24. Out of this income the recipient must keep up apartments of simple dignity. It was formerly against etiquette for a cardinal to be seen in public walking along the street. The Pope is now relaxing this rule as the present-day cardinals are unable to keep even a brougham, which in 1770 displaced the gilded carriages of cardinals. They may now walk or order a motor car from a garage, or a taxi, when they find it necessary to ride.

Labour conference in city

The eighth annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party opened in the Trades Hall yesterday. The national president (Mr T. Brindle) said that at this, the eighth annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party, they could rejoice at the wonderful progress they had made. The year ended had been a phenomenal one from the point of view of organisation. New branches of the party had increased by leaps and bounds, and Labour sentiment was growing stronger and more resolute in every electorate. While the Reform Party retains office with the aid of Mr Massey’s Liberals the whole dominion rings with the psychology of Labour. The working farmer under his load of mortgages; the citizen, ever struggling against the rising cost of living; the families compelled through shortage of homes to herd together in single rooms; the teachers in charge of the young minds of the dominion, harassed and menaced by a Minister whose sole thought is press propaganda for political purposes; the spiritual men and women who have held on to the old religious organisations, and who are now beginning to see the commonwealth of service — through the maze of services; the civil servants — menaced by men blinded by the profit concept as against community service — are all looking to Labour.

— ODT, 22.4.1924  (Compiled by Peter Dowden)